How to Make a Sunlight Box:

Step 1: Let the kids paint the box!

Step 2: Fill the bottles with water.

For more fun add food coloring to some of the bottles. I recommend regular sized bottles; around 16oz. Mine were a little small. (If you are going to keep them for a while then you can put bleach in them, but I would skip it.)

Step 3: Trace

Trace the bottom of the bottles on the top of the box and cut holes. Put tinfoil on the top of the box to help the light reflect into the bottles.

Step 4: Make a Viewing Window

Cut a hole in the side of the box to look inside. I recommend cutting a smaller window or just eye holes.

Step 5: Let the experimenting begin!

Push bottles into holes and have the children take turns looking in the viewing window. My daughter Audrey put her hands over the bottles to create a “light show” and I brought some cups out to make it easier.

The Science behind it:

When light from the sun hits a solid object, like the cup, it is absorbed. When light hits the water in the bottle, it bends in all different directions. It bends because the water makes the light slow down. This is called refraction. The water makes the light spread out in the box. I also gave the example of being by the pool. I told the kids we have to wear lots of sunscreen by the pool because the water makes the light spread out and we can burn easily from the light. You can also show the children what the light does when there are just holes in the top of the box and no water bottle.

What do you think about this experiment? Have you done an experiment with light refraction?

Update:

A Liter of Light needs your help to bring an even better light solution to people around the world! Do the experiment above in your school or home and go to their website to learn how you can help!

About Janine

An Idaho Mom of 6, lover of Jesus, and slayer of the dreaded laundry monster. She believes an elite education begins in the home and wants to help parents raise sons and daughters, whose legacies honor their families and glorify God.

These look like a lot of fun! My daughter really loves exploring light, so I’ll have to give this a try. Thanks for stopping by Homeschool Mo! Following back, but by RSS feed since Google Friend Connect is so weird these days.

Hi Janine, just stopping by to say how delightful your blog is. Thanks so much for sharing. I have recently found your blog and am now following you, and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chrishttp://chelencarter-retiredandlovingit.blogspot.ca/

Hey there! Love your blog! I found you via the MMM blog hop and just added myself to your followers! Also I wanted to invite you to come enter a fabulous Steve Madden giveaway I’m having right now!!Hope to see you there! And thanks so much lady! Emily

Hi Amy, I’m glad you liked it. The kids really liked watching the video and seeing people using what they had created. It also help start conversations about being thankful to God for what we have because other people can’t even afford to light their homes.

I just loved this idea so much that I had to feature it as my spotlighted project of the week! Swing by and grab a button when you get a chance!Kim tiarasandbowties.blogspot.comTip Toe Thru Tuesday linky

Thank you for this! My son is a science nerd and loves doing experiments. I’m pinning this for future reference (it’s winter here at the moment and not too sunny – this will be great over the summer holidays!) Thanks for visiting Maker*land and following along – I’m returning the favour and will be sure to visit often. Cheers! 🙂